Explore This Park

Alerts In Effect

Contact Us

Finding Aids - Presidio of San Francisco

Finding aids contain information on the contents and significance of an archival collection. The finding aid may include descriptive information; repository information; collection history; biographical or historical information on creators of the collection; and in some cases a container or folder list of everything in the collection. The collection is housed at the Park Archives and Records Center and can be viewed during open hours or by appointment. Please visit the Collections page for more information or email us.

General Joseph W. Stilwell Papers, 1901-1963 GOGA 26980(PDF 563KB)(RTF 7.28MB)
Personal photographs and ephemera from the life and career of General Joseph W. Stillwell. The images reflect events during his military experience, including portraits in his uniform, meetings with dignitaries, significant military events. The collection also contains information regarding the dedication of Stillwell Hall on the Presidio and interviews with his wife regarding his legacy.

Post Diaries, Presidio of San Francisco GOGA 32427(PDF 265KB)(RTF 14.1MB)
Two bound ledger books with handwritten entries noting important events at the Presidio of San Francisco. The first ledger is from January 25, 1931-March 2, 1937 and contains many entries about the 30th Infantry. The second ledger is from January 28, 1946-July 1953, beginning with the command of General Joseph Stilwell.

Edwin J. Stotler Photographs GOGA 33760(PDF 390KB)(RTF 4.47MB)
The collection is comprised of lantern slides and photographs taken by Edwin J. Stotler while serving as a private in Company M, 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Spanish American and then the Philippine American War from 1898 through 1899. Images capture the regiment’s journey to San Francisco from Iowa via train, its residence at the Presidio of San Francisco, and sight-seeing trips around San Francisco. While living at Camp Merritt and then Camp Merriam on post, Stotler and his brother, Harry, saw Mount Tamalpais, Fort Point, Sutro Baths, and Golden Gate Park as well as other landmarks in the city. Also captured is the regiment’s trip overseas and eventual participation in the Philippines. Offered through a first person lens, the sights of a common American volunteer soldier are experienced: everything from intimate shots of company officers and high ranking officials (such as Admiral Dewey), marching through tropical towns and soaking up vistas along the Pasig River, shopping at markets run by native Filipinos, and surveying the enemy dead. Equally thorough are images depicting the regiment’s residence at the Presidio of San Francisco before mustering out in late 1899. In total, the collection offers an in depth look into the life of a soldier at war with Filipino “insurgents” in the late 19th-century.

Presidio of San Francisco Historical Real Estate Files GOGA 35159(PDF 492KB)(RTF 14.3MB)
Historical real estate documents, maps, and plans for the military lands comprised of the Presidio of San Francisco and surrounding environs such as Fort Baker and Fort Mason. The files contain permits and licenses granted by the Army to individuals and companies for the use of military buildings and lands as well as agreements between the Army and various parties negotiating boundaries, water usage, rights of way, and utilities. A significant portion of the permits and agreements are with the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company for use of Presidio lands during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and with the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District giving them permission to run a state road through the Presidio and Fort Baker. There are also the titles and deeds for the acquisition of Lobos Creek and the Wherry Housing apartment complex.

Presidio Fire Department Logbooks, 1941-1992 GOGA 35291(PDF 375KB)(RTF 5.94MB)
The Presidio of San Francisco Fire Department was the main fire department of the military installations associated with the Presidio, such as Forts Baker, Barry, Cronkhite, Funston, Scott, and Angel Island. These materials relate to the daily operations of the Presidio of San Francisco Fire Department, consisting of one hundred and sixty-two [162] volumes of daily logs and run reports, ten [10] fire record journals, twelve [12] National Fire Protection Association Certificates of Merit, and other papers found loose in the logbooks. The logbooks contain information on the daily operations of the Fire Stations, including who was on duty and what were the main activities of the day from vehicle maintenance to runs. They also reveal daily activities of the posts in general, especially incidents like fires and bomb threats.

People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area - PFGGNRA Papers GOGA 35304(PDF 1.1MB)(RTF 35.2MB)
This collection is shaped around the work of the ad-hoc committee People for a Golden Gate National Recreation Area (PFGGNRA) from 1970 to 1994. The organization's original goal was to establish the GGNRA, and it continued to oversee the expansion of the park and the implementation of the enabling legislation. These papers were amassed by Amy Meyer, founding member and co-chairman of the committee.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area General Management Plan Papers GOGA 35312(PDF 577KB)(RTF 5.11MB)
This collection consists of materials collected during the development of the first GGNRA General Management Plan (GMP). It includes background and source material, planning files, public meeting materials, graphics and other documents relating to the contracts to research potential uses for the lands encompassed within the recently developed GGNRA. The GMP process incorporates proposals for development and use of various land sites and features and includes a rigorous public process to review alternatives. The resulting document, the GMP, lays out a program for a national park area for a period of ten to fifteen years into the future

Charles Wofford Seacoast Artillery Collection GOGA 35315(PDF 312KB)(RTF 313KB)
This collection consists of the photographs, publications and photocopies of documents relating to seacoast artillery, amassed by Chuck Wofford. While there are copies of many general coast artillery publications, the collection is strong in information relating directly to the San Francisco Bay Area seacoast artillery installations. The general publications include regulations and training manuals, as well as notes on construction. There are also copies of ledgers and journals relating specifically to San Francisco Bay Area fortifications. Contemporary studies of seacoast fortifications include the journal of the Coast Defense Study Group, general studies, and GGNRA and other published materials on GGNRA seacoast artillery resources. There are also numerous contemporary photographs and negatives and photocopies of historic photographs of coastal batteries at Fort Baker, Fort Barry, Fort Cronkhite, Fort Funston, Fort Miley, Fort McDowell, Fort Mason, Fort Miley and Fort Scott.

Clyde Wahrhaftig Collection GOGA 35329(PDF 1.2MB)(RTF 6.59MB)The Clyde Wahrhaftig Collection is made of Bay Area Geologists, Clyde Wahrhaftig, manuscripts & papers, photographs, and maps. A Streetcar to Subduction and other Plate Tectonic Trips by Public Transport in San Franciscowas a book Clyde wrote in 1979 and revised in 1984 about visiting geological sites in San Francisco using only public transportation. Also included are documents from professional organizations and clubs he was a member of, books from his own personal collection, photographic images, and orthophotographs (an aerial photograph with distortions due to tilt, curvature, and ground relief removed that has the accuracy of a map and the clarity of a photograph) primarily of the San Francisco Bay Area. The last portion of the Clyde Wahrhaftig collection consists of his maps. There are several different types of maps including geographic maps, topographic maps, quadrangle maps, and street maps.

Public Health Service Hospital (Marine Hospital) Archives GOGA 35336 (PDF 637KB)(RTF 4.52MB)
The U.S. Public Health Service Hospital Collection is comprised of historic files, administrative files, project files, photographs, graphics, negatives, and oversized materials. The oversized materials include the building plans. The historic files contain letters of correspondence, contracts, and building condition notes and legislation concerning the construction of the early U.S. Marine Hospital. Vendor catalogs and manuals provide an historical visual context with design and equipment materials that were used at the Marine Hospital in the past, or were under possible consideration.

Zero Thomas Collection GOGA 35356(PDF 513KB)(RTF 17.1MB)
The Zero Thomas Collection is comprised of personal correspondence, documents, and photographs pertaining to Zero Thomas and his family. The collection consists of family letters, holographs with envelopes and philately intact, family records including the marriage license from his wedding in the post chapel, family photographs, and local business letters/records.

1st Lieutenant Frances Maude Pleasants Collection, 1943-1947 GOGA 37165(PDF 313KB)(RTF 4.21MB)
This collection depicts Frances Maude Pleasants’ active duty at Letterman General Hospital in the Presidio of San Francisco, her beginnings with the Women’s Army Corps, and membership to the Presidio Officers’ Clubs during and following World War II in San Francisco and other locations where she trained and served. The collection is comprised of papers, photographs, orders, receipts, letters, booklets, and other ephemera, newspapers, instructions, memorandums, and her honorable discharge papers. It is divided into four series to show the progression of her military career starting when she joined the WAC in 1943 until receiving her honorable discharge papers at Letterman in 1947 and items representing her civilian life

Armand Putz Family Collection GOGA 37169(PDF 337KB)(RTF 4.16MB)
The collection depicts the musical history of Armand Putz, Third Artillery Bandmaster at the Presidio of San Francisco from 1900s to 1925, his musical performance career with the United States Army, and materials representing his descendants. The collection is comprised of photographs, original music scores, published music, books, war ration books, journals, newspapers, and a scrapbook that has many articles written about Armand Putz’s musical and personal career.

United States Army Project Records, 1910-1999 GOGA 37252(PDF 14.8MB)(RTF 34.7MB)
The United States Army Project Records, dating from 1910-1999, is organized into five series: Contracts, Work Orders, Post Requests, Project Lists, and Additional Material. The bulk of the material dates from 1964-1995. The project records originated from the various directorates and offices of the U.S. Army stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco and its sub-installations: Fort Baker, Fort Barry, Fort Cronkhite, Fort Funston, Fort Mason, Fort Miley, Fort Point, Fort Winfield Scott, Letterman Army Institute of Research, Letterman Army Medical Center, Letterman General Hospital, Public Health Service Hospital, and various Nike Sites including SF-51 in Pacifica and Nike Site SF-88 at Fort Barry.

Harbor Defenses of San Francisco Photograph Album, 1943 GOGA 38722(PDF 250KB)(RTF 4.19MB)
The collection consists of a large photograph album the front cover of which reads "H.D.S.F. Photos." The album contains eighty photographs depicting Harbor Defenses of San Francisco activities during World War II from 1941 through 1943. Subjects include the removal of post cannons for salvage;events such as the 6th Coast Artillery Organization Day and festivities surrounding of appointment of Brigadier General Ralph E. Haines to the command of HDSF.;obstacle training at Fort Winfield Scott and Fort Cronkhite;anti-torpedo boat targets towed into the San Francisco Bay;the construction of I Battery Mess Hall, and the Battery mascot—a young lion;and mine planting yawls at Fort Baker, as well as a mine planting crew in action in the San Francisco Bay.

James Family Papers GOGA 40085(PDF 290KB)(RTF 13.6MB)
Documents and photographs pertaining to the military service of Ernest C. James, Sr., 51st Iowa Regiment, Spanish American War. The photographs consist of copy negatives and depict encampment life in and around the Presidio of San Francisco from 1898-1899 and in the Philippines. The documents are all photocopies and include selections from a scrapbook compiled by Ernest C. James, Sr.